LATAM prepares for World Cup with new flights

7 March 2014

LAN and TAM Airlines, part of LATAM Airlines Group, the largest airline group in South America, have announced the addition of over 300 new international flights to support demand during the World Cup this summer. The markets with the highest increase in flights to Brazil are Argentina, Chile and the UK.

In addition to this, TAM Airlines has altered 31 per cent of its domestic flight network from June 10th to July 15th 2014 with the addition of over 750 new flights within Brazil.

Over the coming months TAM is working on fine tuning details and getting approval for the small portion of flight requests still pending final approval. The company plans to submit additional requests during the event once the second phase of the tournament is defined. LAN and TAM have also requested authorisation from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency to operate up to 201 international charter flights during the event.

TAM estimates an investment of over than $21 million to implement the changes to the existing network. The decision to add flights came after TAM evaluated all the approvals granted by ANAC. With these modifications, TAM will operate approximately 22,000 flights within Brazil during the World Cup with a total domestic passenger capacity of seven million. The company will maintain a daily average of 800 flights, 640 of which are domestic.

Claudia Sender, chief executive, TAM Airlines, commented: “Our operation will be highly focused on the logistical challenge of crisscrossing a continent-sized country day and night and operating flights that are synchronised with the World Cup match schedule. We will offer connectivity and transport a large share of the fans from around the world and we are fully committed to the success of the event. The new network is necessary and these plans have been in progress since last year.”